Today, greater emphasis is being placed on hearing health. During the month of May, we celebrate Better Hearing Month! We celebrate the sounds of life and encourage everyone to be more aware of their hearing health.

As reported by the American Academy of Audiology, hearing loss affects approximately 37.5 million Americans (AAA, 2017). It is also important to note that hearing loss does not only affect adults. Hearing loss can, in fact, affect people of all ages. Hearing loss is the third most common health problem in the United States and affects 1 in 8 people over the age of 12 years old (AAA, 2017).

If you have difficulty hearing in noisy environments, frequently ask for repetition or hear ringing or buzzing in your ears, you may consider having your hearing tested. These are just a few signs of hearing loss. If you have a family history of hearing loss, if you have been exposed to loud noise or have a history of ear infections or ear disease, be aware that these are a few possible causes of hearing loss. Regardless of whether or not you meet the above criteria, we should all protect our hearing. To best protect your ears and hearing health, wear hearing protection in noise or around loud sounds, turn down the headphones and do not put anything in your ear!

Untreated hearing loss can make it difficult to understand speech, especially in background noise, and can therefore negatively impact your emotional and social well-being. Take care of your hearing health! Schedule an appointment today with your local Audiologist and Otolaryngologist if you are concerned about your hearing or the hearing health of a loved one. Celebrate the sounds of life, not only today, but every day!

American Academy of Audiology. (2017). Facts about hearing loss. Retrieved April 30, 2018, from https://www.audiology.org/publications-resources/consumer-information/fact-sheets.